Desmond Longe
Desmond Evelyn Longe | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Desmond Evelyn Longe |
| Born | August 8, 1914 Norfolk, England |
| Died | February 19, 1990 (age 75 years) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom France |
| Service |  British ArmySpecial Operations Executive |
| Years of service | 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Major |
| Service number | 156248 |
| Unit | Norfolk Regiment |
| Commands | Commander of Mission Eucalyptus |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Military Cross War Medal 1939-1945 1939-1945 Star High Sheriff of Norfolk Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk |
Major Desmond Evelyn Longe, MC[1], DL, (born. 8 September 1914 – died. 19 February 1990) was a British Army Major, S.O.E agent and Commander of the Inter-Allied mission, Eucalyptus.
Early life and family
Longe was born the son of the Rev. Charles Longe[2]. Longe worked as a bank clerk in Jamaica before spending the majority of his wartime service in West Africa, India and Vassieux-en-Vercors in the department of Drôme in southeastern France[3][4].
World War II
During the war, Longe served in the British Army as part of the Special Operations Executive. Longe was the commander of the Inter-Allied Mission Eucalyptus. On 19 July 1945, Longe was awarded the Military Cross[5].
Mission Eucalyptus
On 21 June 1944, members of a ‘Jedburgh’ special operations unit commanded by Major Desmond Longe parachuted into a field in the French commune of Vassieux-en-Vercors in the department of Drôme in southeastern France as part of an inter-allied mission codenamed ‘Eucalyptus’, intended to educate the guerrillas in the use of parachuted weapons training in guerrilla-style combat as well as seeking suitable landing and drop zones for airborne operations in the area[6]. The mission comprised Commander, Major Desmond Longe and his second in command, John Houseman[7], a former estate agent. Also aiding the mission were three subsequent officers, including 2 radio officers: Franoc-American OSS agent, Andre Pecquet (codename: ‘Paray’) and Frenchman, Phillipe Saillard (codename: ‘Touareg’). The mission moved near Saint-Martin-en-Vercors on 10 July 1944 where it was strengthened furthermore by three French officers, including Adrien Conus[8].
Inspiration behind James Bond
Mission Eucalyptus served as the inspiration for the greatest spy fictional hero of all time, James Bond, codenamed, secret agent 007[9].
Honours and Awards
On 19 July 1945, Longe was awarded the Military Cross by King George VI for gallantry during active operations against the enemy.
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| Military Cross | 1939–1945 Star | War Medal |
Personal life
Longe served as President of Norwich Union Insurance in the 1970s and later Chairman in 1980[10]. Longe was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1975[11]. In 1980, Longe served as President of the Royal Norfolk Show[12].
Books
Longe has been mentioned in the following books:
- Setting France Ablaze: The SOE in France During WWII (by Peter Jacobs)[13]
- A Pacifist at War: The Silence of Francis Cammaerts (by Ray Jenkins)[14]
- Fighters in the Shadows: A New History of the French Resistance (by Robert Gildea)[15]
- Vercors 1944: Resistance in the French Alps (by Peter Lieb)[16]
- In Search of the Maquis: Rural Resistance in Southern France 1942-1944 (by H. R. Kedward)[17]
References
- ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45439/page/8346/data.pdf
- ^ https://archive.org/stream/whitakerspeerage00unse_17/whitakerspeerage00unse_17_djvu.txt
- ^ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wGtECwAAQBAJ&pg=PT445&dq=major+desmond+longe&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjG3ZChzrrOAhUJBcAKHZNQCGcQ6AEIKDAC#v=onepage&q=major%20desmond%20longe&f=false
- ^ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=aL7d9XKoKlsC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&dq=major+desmond+longe&source=bl&ots=gQ198IdHXs&sig=35cNlbcV_MXexnKGWZuBpUb5fk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj5zIKSqLrOAhVIDsAKHU5tBBgQ6AEINzAF#v=onepage&q=major%20desmond%20longe&f=false
- ^ http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7396639
- ^ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=WBzOAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA116&dq=major+desmond+longe&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjG3ZChzrrOAhUJBcAKHZNQCGcQ6AEILjAD#v=onepage&q=major%20desmond%20longe&f=false
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/categories/c55673/
- ^ http://museedelaresistanceenligne.org/media7530-Mission-Eucalyptus
- ^ http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/the_amazing_story_of_a_norfolk_soldier_and_an_operation_which_it_is_claimed_provided_inspiration_for_james_bond_1_1790058
- ^ https://joemasonspage.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/spixworth-2/
- ^ http://www.theinfolist.com/php/SummaryGet.php?FindGo=High%20Sheriff%20Of%20Norfolk
- ^ http://royalnorfolkshow.rnaa.org.uk
- ^ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=J_xyCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA199&dq=major+desmond+longe&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjG3ZChzrrOAhUJBcAKHZNQCGcQ6AEIIjAB#v=onepage&q=major%20desmond%20longe&f=false (page 199)
- ^ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=aL7d9XKoKlsC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&dq=major+desmond+longe&source=bl&ots=gQ198IlHYv&sig=vZ0bXFX6ZSqXqCSWW7gDUjaWkM4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQsZT_xbrOAhVCvhQKHaQID84Q6AEIOTAF#v=onepage&q=major%20desmond%20longe&f=false (page 159)
- ^ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wGtECwAAQBAJ&pg=PT445&dq=major+desmond+longe&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjG3ZChzrrOAhUJBcAKHZNQCGcQ6AEIKDAC#v=onepage&q=major%20desmond%20longe&f=false
- ^ https://www.amazon.com/Vercors-1944-Resistance-French-Campaign/dp/1849086982
- ^ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=mIJdOCh3_gkC&pg=PA178&dq=major+desmond+longe&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjG3ZChzrrOAhUJBcAKHZNQCGcQ6AEINDAE#v=onepage&q=major%20desmond%20longe&f=false (page 178)